The Bulwick Walk 29 August 2024: the photographs

And so another wonderful collection of pictures (or photographs as we professionals like to call them) from Mandy.

The instructions for this walk were clear: Meet near the church (NN17 3EA),  for a walk via Cadge Wood, Hostage Wood and Blatherwycke.

Now for anyone not a regular of these parts these are indeed strange names, and I am especially attracted to Cadge Woods as a name for reasons that may not become fully clear at this time.

Cadge Wood was known as Cagge in the 13th century and Caggestes in the 14th century.

Naturally I wanted to know more but all I could find was a note saying “the origin of the name is obscure.”

And yes I can accept that because quite a bit of what I write is obscure, but I am writing websites, not naming villages with names that seem to come from nowhere and then later vanish.

I mean supposing I went round writing my name as “Tony” as I do but then telling people it was pronounced “Axylottle”.  Where would we be then?  People might think I was a bit strange.

But venturing forth into my enquiries I found that there is a noun “cadge” which is used in falconry.

Now being brought up in Tottenham in north London I must admit this is not a word we often used in my youth, but I have discovered in relates to “a frame on which several hawks are carried to be sold.”

And here’s another thing, apparently “Cadge” as a place name is so rare that this location might actually be unique, although one claims that with caution.

But what of “Hostage Walk” I hear you cry.

Now at this point I am going to be quite honest with you (as of course I always am, and far be it from to be otherwise) but I haven’t got the slightest idea what any of that means.

But I do know that quite a few political activists have over the years organised “Hostage Walks” to draw attention to the plight of hostages worldwide.  However in relation to this location, I know nothing more.

So now without further digression let us consider Blatherwycke.

Now here again we have a village named in the Domesday Book, and I am rather fond of such things since I have the honour of living in just such a village.In those ancient days it was  “Blarewiche” which goes to show how poor the spelling was in daze ov yor.It is actually said to mean that the village was the home of the “bladder-plant specialised-farm”, or it could be where the bladderwort grows.In this village is to be found Blatherwyke Hall built in the 18th century. and demolished in 1948 which I find rather sad.  

But now let us turn to our final picture…

Disappearing deer I think is a suitable title, and I really do like this photograph.

Even if all the usual silliness about village names fails to hold your interest, this surely is something to behold.

I never saw anything like it in Tottenham.